Michael Block was done at this year’s PGA Championship. And there was some question whether he was finished with PGA Championships.
Since 2023, Block has been one of the stories at the year’s second major. There’s been his golf — three years ago, the club pro from California memorably tied for 15th at the PGA. And there’s been the man beyond the golf — some like his showman personality, some don’t. But could this week be his final PGA? At Aronimink Golf Club just outside of Philly, Block opened with an even-par 70 — then shot four-over over his final nine holes on Friday, and he won’t play the weekend. Next month, he also turns 50.
Friday, though, he said he hopes to be back next year.
Maybe even the next five.
“So I have to be honest with you,” Block told Sirius XM’s Jason Sobel. “There’s no way in God’s green Earth this is my last one. No chance.
“I will definitely qualify for one more, if not five more, to be honest. Even though I’m going to turn 50, I still get the opportunity because of the PGA of America to go to the national championship [the PGA Professional Championship] and qualify for the top 20 to come here. And I definitely have some more in me, for sure. And there’s no doubt about that. So if I do, I do. If I don’t, I don’t. And I got the senior stuff coming up, which is cool, right? But at the same time, I don’t feel like I’m done. I can still come to these. I’m not going to compete. Like I can’t win one of these, but I can at least get in here and have fun.”
With that, here are 12 surprising players who missed the cut at this year’s PGA Championship. Players at four-over or better will play the weekend at par-70 Aronimink.
Surprising players who missed the PGA Championship cut
12. Michael Block
What he shot: 70-75
Surprising because: It’s the PGA Championship — you expected Block to make a run. But five bogeys and two double bogeys on Friday were too much to overcome.
11. Garrick Higgo
What he shot: 69-76
Surprising because: What could have been had he showed up on time on Thursday? Did that distract him during the first round? Did the ensuing attention unnerve him during the second round?
10. Sepp Straka
What he shot: 73-73
Surprising because: Straka is a two-time member of the European Ryder Cup team. But he played his last four holes on Friday at three-over.
9. Robert MacIntyre
What he shot: 70-75
Surprising because: MacIntyre is also a two-time member of the European Ryder Cup team. But he made six bogeys and a double bogey on Friday.
8. Tyrrell Hatton
What he shot: 72-74
Surprising because: Hatton tied for third at the Masters, and he had three top 25s in the majors last year. But he made nine bogeys and one double bogey over his 36 holes.
7. Adam Scott
What he shot: 72-76
Surprising because: This is Scott’s 99th straight major start, so you may have thought a run was coming. But he made just one birdie on Friday.
6. Russell Henley
What he shot: 72-73
Surprising because: He’s the world’s ninth-ranked player. But he made 10 bogeys over his two rounds.
5. J.J. Spaun
What he shot: 70-76
Surprising because: Last year’s U.S. Open winner is the world’s eighth-ranked player. But he played his final 11 holes at five-over.
4. Viktor Hovland
What he shot: 74-72
Surprising because: When he’s right, Hovland is one of the best players in the world. But he made 13 bogeys across his two rounds.
3. Keegan Bradley
What he shot: 74-72
Surprising because: Bradley won the 2018 BMW Championship, which was played at Aronimink. But he carded just two birdies over his two rounds.
2. Tommy Fleetwood
What he shot: 72-73
Surprising because: He’s the world’s sixth-ranked player. But he also made just two birdies across his first two days.
1. Bryson DeChambeau
What he shot: 76-71
Surprising because: The two-time U.S. Open winner was one of the favourites entering the week. But he finished the first two days in a tie for 132nd.
This article originated on Golf.com
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